Show-case or show-front.



No. 739,295. PATENTBD SEPT. 22.1903. J. L. CRANE. i

SHOW 'CASE 0R. SHOW FRONT.

APBLIQATION FILED AUG. 21e.` 189e.

No MODEL.

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.UNITED STATES satented September 22, 1903!.A A

PATE-NT Ori-ucla.

SHOW-CASIE ORSHOW-iFR-ONT.

SIECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 739,295, dated September 22, 1903.

Application led August 26, 1898. Serial No. 689,546. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern-1y Be it known that I, J AMES L. CRANE, residing at Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Show'- Cases or Show-Fronts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in show-cases and show-fronts, and more especially to a corner-clamp instrumental in securing together upright glass plates of a showcase or show-front that are arranged at an angle to and abut each other, and my invention pertains also to a top corner-clamp for use in the construction of show-cases and having not only means instrumental in preventing endwise displacement of the connected upright glass plates, but also improved means instrumental in holding the top plate of the show-case downwardly upon the said upright plates. y

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a top plan of a corner of a show-case embodying my invention. Fig. II is a vertical section on line II II, Fig. I. Fig. IIIis a horizontal section on line III III, Fig. II. Fig, IV is a top plan of the corner of a show-case involving a modification that is within the scope of my invention. Fig. V is a vertical section on either one of lines V V, Fig. IV.

Referrin gto the drawings, a and b designate the upper portions of two upright glass plates or sides of a show-case or show-front, which plates are arranged at righ-t angles to each other in the case illustrated, and cl designates the top plate of the said show-case, which top plate rests upon theV aforesaid upright plates a and b.

My improved corner-clamp comprises an external jaw e and an internal jaw g. The external jaw e is an angle-piece embracing the external corner formed at the upper ends of the upright glass plates below the top plate, and consequently has two arms or wings e e2, overlapping and arranged to bear against the outer side of plates a and b, respectively. The internal jaw g is an angle-piece fitting against the internal sides of the upright plates a and h opposite to the external jaw and comexternal screw h, arranged in a horizontal plane and extending through the hole g3, formed centrally of the internal jaw and throughthe corner formed between plates a gages a correspondingly arranged and threaded hole e3, formed in the corner of the external jaw. The plates a and'b are recessed in their contiguous or adjacent ends, as at c, to

jaw. The corner-clamp is provided with an and b into the extern-al jaw. The screw h enf accommodate thelocation and operation of the 'A y said screw, that at its inner end is provided with a countersunk head h', that is arranged to bear or crowd the internal jaw against the internal surfaces of the plates a and h. The screw receiving hole g3 in the internal jaw is countersunk, as required, to accommodate the reception of the counter sunk head of the screw, and the said head is provided witharecess 7L? for accommodating the application of a screw-driver. jaw, it will be observed, serves as a nut" for the screw, and it is obvious that the two jaws are actuated toward eachother, so as to clamp the plates a and h between them upon turning the screw in the one direction and are loosened relative to the plates upon turning the screw in the opposite direction. kOne of the jaws, and preferably the external jaw, is provided with two lugs'eL and e5, that engage niches a" and "b', respectively, formed in the plates 4a and b, respectively, and the said engaging lugs and niches prevent endwise displacement of the said plates. The lugs e4and e5 are formed upon the different arms or wings e and e2, respectively, ofthe external jaw, and in Fig. I are formed upon the inner side of the said jaw and in the same horizontal plane with the screw-receiving hole e? of the jaw, andthe engaging niches a andh b/ lare formed in the external sides of the plates a and b and in the same horizontal planewith the recesses c, that are formed in theladjacent ends of the said plates for the accommodation, as already indicated, of the location vand operation of the screw h. The location of the lugs c4 and e5 and the screw h in the same horizontal plane'facilitates the formation of The external l IOO the recesses formed in the glass plates and saves labor and expense in the assemblage of the parts. In Figs. IV and V the lugs e4 and e5 are formed upon the upper ends of the arms or wings of the external jaw and project inwardly in a horizontal plane and engage recesses a2 and b2, formed in the ripper ends of the plates a and b, respectively. The internal jaw at its upper end and inner side is provided with a web g, that iorms a bearing Afor the top plate d and connects and braces apart the two arms or wings g and g2 of the said jaw, and is provided with a vertical screwthreaded hole g5, that is engaged by the correspondingly-threaded shank of the vertically-arranged screw 7c, that is introduced through a hole CZ', formed in the top plate d 4of the showcase, and has a smooth polished head r, engaging the upper side of the said plate and arranged to bear the said plate downwardly upon the aforesaid web and downwardly upon the upright plates a and t. The web g4 forms a nut for the screw that has its shank in the latters lower end, provided with a recess 7a2 for accommodating the application of a screwdriver. It is obvious that upon turning the serewin the one direction the top plate d. will be caused to bear downwardly upon the aforesaid web g4 and upright plates a and l), and the top plate will be loosened relative to the saidweb and upright plates upon turning the screw in the opposite direction. The construction thus described is important, because it accommodates the employment of a screw that has a smooth unreecssed head, because it does not require recessing or cutting away of the upright plates a'and b and because it is not only cheap, but possesses great efficiency and durability.

Vhile ordinarily a show-front has not a glass top and would not require the screw 7e', yet projecting show-fronts, especially when the latter are located in an arcade below and projecting from an elevated promenade or walk, could have such tops. I would remark, also, that a show-case or show-front may be provided with my improved corner-clamp in all of its corners, top and bottom, and at points intermediate between the bottom and top, it' desired or advisable, and if at points thus intermediate may, by means of the web (/4 and screw 7e, be instrumental in supporting glass shelves. I would remark, furthermore, that the location oi' the means operatively connecting the two jaws of the corner-clamp together between the two lugs c and ci renders practicable not only the use of short lugs and eorrespondiugly-shallow niches in the glass, but the use of a single screw for elampin g the glass between the jaws and for retaining the said lugs positively in engagement with the said niches and accommodates and facilitates the separation and assembling of the parts. It will be observed, also, that my improved corner-clamp accommodates the overlapping, by the outer jaw of the clamp, of the top plate d, so as to prevent the said jaw from' marring the appearance of the show-case, and the clamp clamps the top plate tightly against the upper edges of the upright plates without interfering with the projection of the said top plate any distance beyond the outer sides oil the upright plates.

What I claim is- 1. In a show-case or show-front, the combination, with two upright glass plates arranged at an angle to each other, and atop plate overlapping the upper edges of the corner formed between the upright plates, of an outer jaw arranged against the outer sides of the up right plates adjacent to and below the top plate, an inner jaw arranged against the inner sides of the upright plates adjacent to and belowthe top plate, a connection between' the said jaws, and a verticallyadjustable screw extending through the top plate and attached to one of the aforesaid jaws and having its ripper end provided with a head arranged to hold the top plate down upon the upper edges of the upright plates.

2. In a show-case or show-front, the combination, with two upright glass plates arranged at an angle to each other, and a top plate overlapping the upper edges of the upright plates, of a corner-clamp comprising the following: a jaw having arms or wings arranged to bear against the outer sides of the upright plates, a jaw having arms or wings arranged to bear against the inner sides of the upright plates, an operative connection between the two jaws atA the corner or angle of the clamp, and lugs formed upon the inner sides of the arms or wings of one of the said jaws at opposite sides, respectively, of and at the same elevation as the aforesaid operative eon11ection,and means holding the top plate down against the upper edges of the upright plates.

In a show-case or show-front, the combination, with two upright glass plates arranged at an angle to each other, and a top plate overlapping the upper edges of the upright plates, of a corner-clamp comprising the following: a jaw having arms or wings arranged to abut against the outer sides of the upright plates; an inner jaw having arms or wings arranged to abut against the inner sides of the upright plates, and provided, at its upper end, with a member extending in under the top plate; a single operative connection between the two jaws at the corner or angle formed by the upright plates, and a verticallyadjustable screw extending'through the top plate and attached, below the said top plate, to the jaw member which as aforesaid extends in under the top plate, which screw is provided, at its upper end, with a head arranged to hold the top pla-te down upon the upright plates.

Signed by me ai' Cleveland, Ohio, this 2LH/li day of August, 1898.

JAMES Il. CRANE. lVitnesse-s:

C. l-I. Donna, A. H. PARROTT.

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